Campbell slams McGuinness’ Free Derry ‘send-off’

“The first event will be a play called ‘The Exodus’ in the Millennium Forum which tells the story of how up to 16,000 Protestants fled the West Bank of Londonderry. Today, just 400 Protestants remain on the West Bank of Londonderry.

“The second event is a march to launch Martin McGuinness’ Irish Presidential election campaign.

“The two events involve people departing the City. It is extremely ironic and hypocritical that one decision to move is a voluntary one on behalf of the man who would be President of that Country whilst the other was not voluntary and involved those thousands moving because of a terrorist organisation of which the Presidential candidate was a leading figure.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Victims Spokesperson, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA, has responded to a statement by DUP Minister Arlene Foster MLA, concerning the Enniskillen bombing.

Ms Foster said: “Rather than proposing an international truth commission to deal with these matters, it would be much more helpful to the healing process if McGuinness was to tell the truth about this incident to the HET.”

Mr McLaughling responded: “I find the timing of Arlene Foster’s public comments about Martin McGuinness in the context of the Enniskillen bombing a little hypocritical considering that Ms.

“Foster has served in government with Martin McGuinness for the last five years and never once broached the subject with him.

“I would also ask Arlene to explain exactly what objection she has to the concept of an Independent International Truth Commission to which every individual, party, organisation and government who contributed to the causes and prosecution of the conflict would detail their involvement.

“Sinn Féin would argue that if you only seek evidence from some of the protagonist groups, or if you only ask some of the questions, then you will only establish some of the truth.

“Sinn Féin sincerely regrets that Truth recovery has become yet another contested issue when so many victims and survivors are desperate to establish the facts surrounding the tragedies which afflicted their families and communities. Martin McGuinness has stated publicly the he persionally would appear before such a Commission.

“Surely acceptance that grief and pain recognises no boundaries and affects all who were part of the armed conflict and many non-combatants, would be the best means of removing the obstacles preventing progress.”